The third round of the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup featured eight low scoring, defensive battles with only two teams pulling off upsets of Major League Soccer clubs. With that being the case, it was no surprise that it was a goalkeeper that was named TheCup.us Player of the Round. Tim Melia’s performance in net for the Charleston Battery in their upset of the Chicago Fire in round 3 was enough to get the votes for the award.
- Tim Melia goes up for the ball against the Chicago Fire’s Patrick Nyarko. Photo: Brian Kersey | Chicago Fire
The award is voted on by the staff at TheCup.us and a select panel of members of the North American Soccer Reporters (www.soccerreporters.com).
Melia, who is on loan from Real Salt Lake of MLS, made 8 saves and kept a clean sheet for 120 minutes against the Fire, who were playing in front of their home fans at Toyota Park. After a scoreless draw through extra time, Melia saved Krzysztov Krol’s attempt in the penalty kick shootout while Brian McBride and Wilman Conde missed their attempts and the Battery moved on to the quarterfinals 3-0.
Melia received the vast majority of the votes, while Harrisburg City Islanders goalkeeper Danny Cepero, who shut out the New York Red Bulls in a 1-0 extra time win, finished second.
The Battery will play their second straight road game at the Columbus Crew on July 6 in the quarterfinals.